She wakes up at 6am. Drinks lemon water. Cold-presses her celery juice. Eats a kale salad. Washes it down with an iced matcha. Then posts it all to her story with “#wellness.”
We love her. We are her.
But Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)? She’s silently screaming.
Here’s the thing: a lot of mainstream “healthy girl” habits are great in theory, but in TCM they’re kind of... chaotic. Especially if you're dealing with fatigue, bloating, hormonal drama, or period irregularities.
Let’s break down the TCM red flags hiding in your green-juice life:
1. Cold Drinks All Day, Every Day
What you think: “It’s hydrating and refreshing!”
What your Spleen hears: “I’m trying to extinguish your digestive fire—on purpose.”
In TCM, digestion is powered by Yang energy—aka warmth. Cold drinks (especially first thing in the morning or with meals) dampen your Spleen, weaken digestion, and lead to bloating, loose stools, low energy, and yes, cold in the womb.
Which means: cramps, clots, and period chaos.
TCM Tip: Room temp or warm drinks always. Especially during your period. Bonus points for ginger tea.
2. Raw Salads for Every Meal
What you think: “I’m eating clean!”
What your Liver thinks: “Cool cool cool… now I’m stagnant AND cold.”
Raw veggies are cold, hard to digest, and create—you guessed it—dampness. Plus, when your meals lack warmth and grounding, your Qi has to work overtime just to break it down.
TCM says too much raw food can lead to:
- Bloating
- Irregular bowel movements
- Cold hands and feet
- Sluggish periods
- Zero post-meal satisfaction
TCM Tip: Lightly steam or sauté your greens. Or try a warm veggie soup with rice.
3. Fasting + Skipping Breakfast
What you think: “Intermittent fasting is good for gut rest!”
What your Qi says: “I can’t believe you’ve done this.”
In TCM, morning is when your Spleen is most active and ready to digest. If you skip breakfast, you starve your metabolism—and your womb—of fuel. Over time, this can lead to Qi and Blood deficiency, which shows up as fatigue, dizziness, dry skin, irregular periods, and that “I’m tired but wired” vibe.
TCM Tip: Start your day with something warm and cooked—like congee, miso soup, or oats with cinnamon.
4. Green Juice Cleanses
What you think: “I’m detoxing!”
What your Liver says: “I WAS detoxing… until you froze me in cucumber sludge.”
Green juices are cold, often raw, and lack substance. Sure, they’re packed with vitamins, but from a TCM lens they damage Spleen Yang and don’t support your Qi. You may feel lighter for a day or two—then the cravings, mood swings, and bloat come roaring back.
TCM Tip: Want a detox? Support your Liver with cooked greens, bitter foods, chrysanthemum tea, and regular poops. Trust.
5. Ice Baths + Cold Showers
What you think: “Wim Hof would be proud.”
What your Kidneys scream: “We are literally freezing to death.”
In TCM, your Kidneys store your foundational life energy (Jing)—and they HATE cold. Exposing your lower back, womb, or feet to cold regularly can deplete your Kidney Yang and lead to lower back pain, menstrual cramps, fertility issues, and exhaustion.
TCM Tip: Try warm baths with Epsom salt, heating pads, or mugwort belly compresses instead. Stay cozy, queen.
Final Thoughts?
“Healthy girl” culture often pushes trends that are light on warmth, grounding, and digestion-friendly rituals. But your Spleen, Liver, and Kidneys are begging for more heat, more cooked foods, and a little less kale-in-a-blender chaos.
The good news? You don’t have to give it all up. Just warm it up, slow it down, and stop freezing your uterus on purpose.
Because real glow-ups start with happy organs—and a Spleen that isn’t drowning in cold matcha lattes.
